LaGrange in Brevard County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

LaGrange Community Church

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, December 22, 2016

1. LaGrange Community Church Marker

Inscription. Founded by Tom Johnson Cockshutt in 1869, this was the first organized Protestant Church on the East Coast of Florida between New Smyrna and Key West. Tom donated land for a cemetery and built a small log structure located on what is now the northern part of LaGrange Cemetery. It was used as a public meeting place, church, and the first public school in Brevard County. In 1872 a two-story structure of vertical logs was built on the present site. The first floor was used as a church and the second floor for public meetings and a schoolhouse. In 1893 the second story was removed, a bay window was added between the two front doors, and horizontal boards were placed over the vertical logs, encompassing the old structure within the walls of the new. Depicted on one of the eight memorial windows are the names of those who built the church: J.N. Feaster; J.C.C. Feaster; Tom J. Cockshutt; W.S. Norwood; B.J. Mims; R. Singleton; and W.P. Day. The first ordained pastor was W.N. Chaudoin from 1871-1904. Several other congregations were formed from this small church that included: First Presbyterian of Titusville; Mims Methodist Church;

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and Greater St. James Missionary Baptist Church of Mims.

Erected 2005 by The Brevard County Historical Commission and the Florida Department of State. (Marker Number F-540.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1869.

Location. 28° 38.376′ N, 80° 50.227′ W. Marker is in LaGrange, Florida, in Brevard County. It is at the intersection of Old Dixie Highway and Briarwood Lane, on the left when traveling south on Old Dixie Highway. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1575 Old Dixie Highway, Titusville FL 32796, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Space Coast.

It is also in the American South

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At

LaGrange Community Church Marker and church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, December 22, 2016

2. LaGrange Community Church Marker and church

least 8 other markers are within one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Site of the First Church (here, next to this marker); LaGrange Community Cemetery (within shouting distance of this marker); LaGrange/Mims Community Cemetery (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Oliver's Camp (approx. 0.7 miles away); Voting Rights Act (approx. 1.1 miles away); Freedom Riders (approx. 1.1 miles away); March On Washington (approx. 1.1 miles away); Groveland Four (approx. 1.1 miles away).

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.

LaGrange Community Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, December 22, 2016

3. LaGrange Community Church

Taken from marker looking east.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2017. It was originally submitted on February 1, 2017, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 774 times since then and 49 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 1, 2017, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.